HYDE CHESHIRE

Harry Rutherford's Festival of Britain Mural

Wednesday, 3 April 2013

MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN HYDE: 1945 -1950 part 2

Here is part 2, as promised, from Roger Chadwick....

MEMORIES OF GROWING
UP IN HYDE: 1945 -1950
(2)

"Just past Glen Wood
House on Mottram Road
is a drive leading to Oaklands Hall. There, at around 6-7 years of
age I met another “Roger”, whose parents, Wilf and Margaret Hirst
were the then stewards of The Oaklands Masonic Hall. Roger became my
“buddie” for the next 8 years – we were both “only
ones” – regarded in those days as spoilt brats because we did not
have to share anything with brothers and sisters. But “only ones”
were common enough in a time of war: and we weren’t spoilt!
Seeing the pictures of Oaklands in the 1960’s on the
Hyde Blog, (remarkably little changed from The Oaklands that I knew), brought
memories flooding back. We climbed up the drainpipe near the front door
so that we could look in at the Masonic Practice Room from a safe
distance. We rifled the empty beer bottles, slid down the rails of that
magnificent staircase, marvelled at the size of the Dining Room and the large
fires made ready in the room to the right of the front door. We toured
the upstairs and made ourselves familiar with every nook and cranny of the
place. Saturday nights found us in the kitchen enjoying
“scollops”(battered slices of potato) fried by Roger’s Dad
over the open grate! Roger kept rabbits in the “stable”
quarters and these we bred and sold for 2/6d a time to the local kids.

Masonic nights were
important occasions. We would wait by the rear door for Ibbotson’s
Van to come with the hot dinners and some nights we managed to get fed or at
least scrape the plates coming back from the tables when the waitresses
weren’t looking. We peeped with awe at all the local gentlemen in the
large hall but never got in their way or interfered with their business.
That was strictly forbidden. Roger’s Dad could box and showed us
clever moves when he wasn’t rolling fags. Roger’s Mum had a superb
“Sun” ladies bike and I learnt to ride on it

We went wild in the
woods and paths around the Hall. We built dens, scrambled up trees, had
mock battles with other lads who played with us. Is Geoff Warner still
around? In high summer, Wilf Hirst would scythe the lawns around the building
– not much car parking in the ‘50’s. The we would stook
and make hay and mess about in hay dens with flies and midges and God
knows what else. Suffice it to say, I was at The Oaklands from dawn
‘till dusk and then suffered a good scrubbing down before bed.

In later years,
Oaklands Hall imprinted itself upon me in a strange way. Reading Jane
Austen and Bronte novels, I would see the characters in the various rooms of
The Hall. Oaklands was the “stage set”, if you see what I mean
– for the imagination to run riot!

Beyond The Oaklands
was a large bungalow set in a huge garden on the banks of a little
stream. The house then belonged to a Mr Wilde but we never spoke to
him. We imagined him to be a German spy and would crawl and mess about
well hidden in his beautiful garden, collected hundreds of beautifully
painted “hairy marys”(caterpillars) from the abundant nasturtium
plants.

Exploration forays
up Brookfold Lane
brought us to the Cheshire
Lines Railway
Bridge and scrambles up
the cinder embankment to beg a ride on a C14 Tank engine which would be
simmering away at the outer home signal. The friendly engine driver
usually told us to b----- off and the equally friendly fireman sometimes lobbed
a lump of coal at us. But could you blame them with two filthy urchins
pestering them on their well earned break.

Roger, this is a lovely story about the Oaklands Masonic Hall, sounds an idyllic childhood. I have very fond memories of the Oaklands as we held our lovely wedding reception there in 1966, we had a superb meal, then dancing to a three piece band, it was a great place to have a reception, very cosy and welcoming. Then in 1969 my mum and dad held their Silver Wedding there, my little girl Jill aged 8 months slept in a cot in an upstairs room, all the staff were really nice.

Roger as you moved out so we moved in!! I lived there from 1959 to 1966. Mum & Dad ran the place. I also have very fond memories of the house and it's extensive grounds. The staircase as you mention and the lodge room, the ladies bar and the cellars. I also ran the bar in the evenings just after starting work at Cable shoes age 14. Regards, John.

Hi Trish, yes they were yours was one of the last weddings they catered prior to retiring. Great to hear you still remember with fondness the Oaklands. We lost dad in 1991 but mum stayed healthy and fit until 2010 when at 90 she quietly faded away.

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